Kraken impresses in Cape Town

Leading correspondents from the sailing industry and prospective clients were recently invited to test sail the flagship 66 ft yacht of the Kraken range, ‘White Dragon’. Cape Town and the surrounding coastline offered a beautiful backdrop for the event whilst the changeable weather provided perfect testing conditions for a yacht designed to sail around the world. This coastline and the Southern Ocean can be a formidable cruising ground and winds up to 60 knots were recorded during the event. ‘White Dragon’ took everything in her stride, ensuring those onboard sailed in comfort and safety. Comments were made regularly to praise the performance, motion and stability of ‘White Dragon’, even in rough conditions.

Kraken Yachts Chairman, Dick Beaumont, arrived in Cape Town in December after a 12,000 mile sail from Hong Kong which he described as, “The ultimate shakedown cruise”. The route took ‘White Dragon’ through the Philippines, Indonesia, Cocos Keeling, Mauritius and Madagascar before sailing down the African coast to Cape Town. “We felt a short afternoon test sail around the bay was not conducive to the type of sailing our yachts are built for. We decided to host multi-day test sails, with nights at anchor, meals prepared onboard and exploring new locations as this was a genuine demonstration as to a Kraken’s purpose. The level of positive feedback from leading members of the industry is a real boost to everyone at Kraken Yachts. It gives us confidence knowing that the safety and comfort features, we feel are essential, are being noticed in the industry.”

Roger Goldsmith, Kraken Yachts Managing Director commented, “It has been a pleasure to host members of the yachting press and potential clients here in beautiful Cape Town. We welcome shipyard visits and test sails of Kraken yachts so we can highlight the many features developed from years (and miles) of blue water sailing experience. Care and attention is a focus throughout each yacht build, from the smallest detail like our moulded bulwarks and high stanchions to the robust hull construction and unique ZERO Keel™. Following high profile reports and discussion recently in the sailing community regarding keel construction and safety, we are proud to lead the industry with our fully encapsulated and integral ZERO Keel™, designed to protect against floating debris and grounding and cannot be detached from the hull.”

‘White Dragon’ will now sail up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia before sailing to St. Helena, Ascension, Cape Verde, the Azores and then arriving in Spain, where she will be available to test sail around the Mediterranean in the summer. You can follow ‘White Dragon’s’ progress at www.krakenyachts.com.

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